Rockland Scholar-Athlete Madie Nicpon, who is on the field hockey, lacrosse and track teams, says she also has a passion for helping her community Sept. 13, 2018 at Suffern High School.
Tania Savayan, tsavayan@lohud.com

Madie Nicpon’s interest in medicine runs deep.

Her dad, Chris, is a pediatrician in New Jersey. Her mom, Kathy, is a nurse practitioner at Helen Hayes Rehabilitation Hospital in West Haverstraw.

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Rockland Scholar-Athlete Madie Nicpon, a captain on the Suffern varsity field hockey team, at the high school Sept. 13, 2018. Nicpon, a senior, is also on the lacrosse and track teams. (Photo: Tania Savayan/The Journal News)

Nicpon, this week’s Journal News/lohud Rockland Scholar-Athlete, has done medical research while volunteering with Helen Hayes Parkinson patients through her school’s STIR program.

Her experience on the other side of things as a patient will get Nicpon, a three-sport athlete who carries a 4.12 grade point average at Suffern High, a ride on a float at the Jan. 1 Tournament of Roses Parade and seats at the Rose Bowl.

The company supplying the nerve invited her to help decorate and ride on the “Donate Life” float in the annual parade.

Her parents and two brothers, Brian, a Texas A&M sophomore, and Mikey, a Suffern sophomore, will accompany her to California.

Nicpon has been on the go of late. Earlier this summer, she visited Jamaica for church missionary work with abandoned children (many severely disabled), HIV-positive kids, and ostracized, unwed mothers, some as young as 13.

“When you talk to Madie, you can see the pure love she has for not only self-success but for ensuring the success and well-being of those around her,” Suffern field hockey coach Gaby Somma said.

Rockland Scholar-Athlete Madie Nicpon, a captain on the Suffern varsity field hockey team, at the high school Sept. 13, 2018. Nicpon, a senior, is also on the lacrosse and track teams. (Photo: Tania Savayan/The Journal News)

“I genuinely like putting myself out there and experiencing things,” said Nicpon, who enjoys “small, person-to-person contact."

Next year, Nicpon, who also plays lacrosse and runs indoor track for Suffern, will attend Tufts University. She’ll play D-III lacrosse there and plans to major in English and minor in biology as part of a pre-med track.

That seems like a heavy lift. But the 17-year-old's no stranger to all-nighters and jokingly calls her agenda planner her best friend.

Nicpon’s president of Suffern’s senior class, lieutenant of the Ramapo Valley Youth Corps (assisting EMTs and paramedics during ambulance runs), co-president of Suffern’s National Honor Society, student liaison to the Board of Education, a Church of Presentation youth minister, Suffern Youth Lacrosse volunteer coach, three-subject tutor and a lot more.

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Rockland Scholar-Athlete Madie Nicpon, a captain on the Suffern varsity field hockey team, at the high school Sept. 13, 2018. Nicpon, a senior, is also on the lacrosse and track teams. (Photo: Tania Savayan/The Journal News)

Q: Tell me about your trip to Jamaica. What did that mean to you?

A: “I’ve done soup kitchens but going to another country and bringing happiness and joy to orphans and people you think need it most was a special thing. Being someone to scoop chicken poop or sing with them or play soccer, it was amazing.“

Q: You work with the local ambulance corps?

A: “My goal is to become an EMT. That way after I get to Tufts, I could work part-time as an EMT. I love working under pressure. I love going on calls.”

Q: What has most surprised you about that?

A: “The certain traumatic calls I’ve been on. There’s so much blood. I didn’t realize what I’m capable of. We train for it in meetings. You think, ‘I’m going to freak out.’ But in the situation, you get in the zone. It’s almost like sports. You freak out before games but once you’re in the game, you get in the zone. I know exactly what to do. “

Twitter: @HaggertyNancy

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